Caldbeck Parish Council s2

CALDBECK PARISH COUNCIL

Minutes of the ordinary meeting held at Caldbeck Parish Hall on Monday 1st July 2013.

PRESENT Alan Tyson (Chairman) Anne Cartmell Norman Atkinson Claire Little Alan Armstrong Roy Knowles Angela Glendinning Colin Smithson

Antoinette Ward (Clerk)

Duncan Fairbairn, District and County Councillor Paul Doherty, Northern Fells Broadband Representative Gaynor Prior (Pure Personal Training Ltd), Richard Massey (Westward parish resident), and 2 residents.

01/07-16 APOLOGIES Apologies for absence were received from Audrey Noble (family reasons), William Cowx (work), Peter Nicholl (Police Community Support Officer) who sent a report, Pete Barron (LDNPA Ranger) who sent a report.

01/07-17 MINUTES The minutes of the annual meeting held on 13th May 2013 were agreed and signed as a correct record.

01/07-18 DECLARATION OF INTEREST Councillor Colin Smithson declared a personal interest in Item 6 b) on the agenda, Land to the east of Upton Cottages, Caldbeck. No pecuniary interests were declared.

01/07-19 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION 1. Peter Nicholl, PCSO, sent a report for the meeting: On 13/06/2013 a fraud was reported and is being followed up by officers. On 15/06/2013 a report of an audible alarm in Caldbeck - officers attended and it was found to be a false alarm. On 23/06/2013 a report of damage to a Sainsbury’s delivery vehicle when water appeared to have been poured onto the passenger side seat in a plastic bag causing electrical damage. Inquiries are on-going. 2. Pete Barron emailed that he had forwarded the Clerk’s note about the Wood Hall Lane problems to the lead field ranger but that it is unlikely to be a job LDNPA can complete if it is not on a Right Of Way or a property as they are having to focus more on those requirements now that staff and funding have been reduced. 3. Resident Henry Hellon enquired about progress with two items of concern on the Green at Caldbeck – the branches which are awaiting the Tree Surgeon’s attention and the potholes on the back green road. The Chairman assured him that both would be followed up again. 4. Gaynor Prior, of Pure Personal Training Ltd, spoke to put the Parish Council in the picture regarding a 44 mile trail run she is organising for fifty runners on the Cumbria Way in August. The route will go from Lime House School, via Caldbeck, over the fell to Skiddaw House and back and she has the permission of the Commoners and the LDNPA. 5. Richard Massey, resident of Westward parish, spoke to explain his concerns about the proposed Wind Turbine development at Carwath, Rosley (Item 6 b on the agenda).

01/07-20 NEXT GENERATION BROADBAND Paul Doherty, Northern Fells Broadband representative, said that he had very disappointing news to report in that our bid, along with numerous others throughout the country, is stalled. DEFRA, who manage the grant funding, want a level of detail that BT refuses to give, citing commercial sensitivity. Cumbria County Council had taken the Northern Fells Broadband Group bid under the County Council wing and this had appeared to remove some obstacles to the NF bid. However DEFRA have now decided that as the NF bid has been taken over by the County Council the original NF bid is scrapped. So if the County Council bid does not succeed then NF could not continue with the original bid but would have to start a new bid all over again. The Northern Fells Broadband volunteers have contributed a tremendous amount of time and expertise to the exercise and they would not have the heart to start all over again, especially in view of the obstacles experienced to date. The NF Broadband Group are still trying to get the funding for additional masts for further roll out of EE 4G mobile. Other than that, at present Northern Fells area is likely to be at the end of the County Council roll out of rural broadband with not particularly high speeds. Paul said that the NF Broadband Group have very recently written to Rory Stewart MP about the situation – they hope to receive a response soon.

01/07-21 PLANNING DECISIONS AND APPLICATIONS a) Decisions: T/2013/0048 Howbeck School House, Hesket Newmarket, CA7 8JN. Fell 6 Norway Spruce. No Objections. 7/2013/2064 Land at Town Head, Upton, Caldbeck, CA7 8EU. Proposed dwellings (2 no. local needs houses). Granted with Conditions, including Local Occupancy. 7/2013/2067 Oddfellows Arms, Caldbeck, CA7 8EA. Installation of 1 no. small metrocell antenna. Listed Building Consent Granted. 7/2013/2059 Chapel House, Hesket Newmarket, CA7 8JF. New porch to garden side entrance. Granted with 5 Conditions. 7/2013/2060 Chapel House, Hesket Newmarket, CA7 8JF. Construct new extended outbuilding to replace existing to provide a garage and external storage for existing dwelling. Granted with 3 Conditions. b) Applications: 2/2013/0227 (Allerdale, Westward parish) Land at Carwath, Rosley, CA7 8BW. Proposed wind farm comprising of three wind turbines up to 115m tip height, with associated crane pads, substation building, anemometer mast, new tracks, new entrance plus temporary construction compound. It was resolved to object to the proposals because 1. the development would have a major impact on the view from Faulds Brow and 2. Allerdale already hosts over 60% of the wind farms in Cumbria. 7/2013/2133 Field to east of Upton Cottages, Upton, Caldbeck, CA7 8EU. Erection of three 3 bedroom houses. It was resolved to object to the proposals because 1. The access is poor and would lead to too many vehicles using the access which already runs between Upton Cottages and their garages, and 2. there is no mention in the application of either local occupancy or affordable housing. 7/2013/2132 Land next to Dyke Nook, Caldbeck, CA7 8EW. Erection of detached dwelling. It was agreed to support these amended plans for the dwelling originally approved in February. 7/2013/2128 Pasture Lane House, Pasture Lane, Hesket Newmarket, CA7 8JP. Change of use of adjoining barn to domestic use, alterations and extension to house including biomass boiler & associated flue, with revised vehicular access. It was agreed to support these proposals which would improve the accommodation for the house.

01/07-22 WOOD HALL LANE: ACCESS DIFFICULTIES The Clerk and Chairman reported on a meeting with Messrs Todhunter of The Beeches Farm, Hesket Newmarket on 18th June to look at the problem that when cars are parked on Wood Hall Lane on the corner where it meets The Street, outside the side wall of 1 Beech Cottages, it is very difficult for the Milk Tanker and other heavy farm vehicles to get round the corner and up the Lane to the farms (The Beeches Farm and Wood Hall farm). Sometimes they can still get round into Wood Hall Lane cab first but in doing so they are eroding the western corner as they hug the corner in order to avoid any parked car opposite. If the milk tanker manages to drive cab first into Wood Hall Lane it then cannot always reverse into Beeches, as the driver is often restricted from swinging out to the right in order to reverse. Neither can they drive forwards into Beeches, because having done so they cannot reverse out again, for the same reason. They are prevented by a combination of the recycling bins or cars occupying the lower end of the parking area and the parking area not being long enough, such that the retaining wall catches on the underside of the reversing wagon. So in order to reverse into Beeches they first reverse into the Wood Hall lane and then all the way up to the farm entrance. Possible solutions were identified and it was agreed that the next moves should be: a) Follow up with the LDNPA the possibility of removing the side retaining wall of the car parking area opposite the Beeches farm entrance, using the stone to continue the back retaining wall northwards towards the field track and gate, and gently grading the car parking area up towards the field track. This would provide a reversing/turning area for farm vehicles, for refuse collection wagons and for any other larger vehicles using Wood Hall Lane, and could be identified by a notice stating it is a reversing/turning area. It would leave the rest of the parking area clear for the recycling bins and for car parking as now. b) To discuss with the landowner of the Drying Green (verge opposite Berkeley House’s back yard, historically and currently used as a communal village drying green), and with Highways the possibility of taking 2 feet of the verge off the corner and so make the cornering for large vehicles very much easier. Highways are soon to embark on major repair work and improved drainage work at the Street/Wood Hall Lane junction so there might be an opportunity to include improving the access round the corner in any programme of works although there is the problem of telephone and electricity cables sited on that corner. c) To write to the owner of 1 Beech Cottages, explaining the problems when holiday makers renting the cottage park on the corner and asking if a notice could be placed either on their cottage wall or on their verge requesting no cars to be parked there due to access needed for large farm vehicles.

01/07-23 PARISH MAINTENANCE a) Caldbeck Green. Miss Rosemary Bailey had sent a letter for discussion, suggesting that the Green be cut only once in the year with paths (as now) through the long grass. The issue was discussed and reference made to the problems of the sieves spreading if they are not cut, and it was agreed to look at the issue in more detail when next year’s tender document for the Green is being decided in February 2014. b) Allotments – eastern border. The proposal made by the Clerk: ‘that allotment rents might be increased to cover the cost of strimming the eastern border and trimming the allotment side of the Crest Hills hedge bordering the allotments’ was considered. The Clerk had received mixed responses from the Allotment Holders. Two had written in support of the proposal and four had written to say that they do not support the proposal and they included the three plot holders who have allotments adjoining the eastern border. They all think the solution is for the Allotment Holders with plots adjoining the eastern border to themselves strim a reasonable border area beside their allotments and one of them suggested the remaining border area along by the fence should be left wild for butterflies etc. In addition one of the plot holders is willing to trim the allotment side of the boundary hedge (liaising with the owners, the Braithwaites at Crest Hills). The Chairman of the Allotment Holders thinks it is important that they retain this responsibility "in house" so that people take a pride in the site and to prevent any issues about other people coming onto the plots. Following discussion it was agreed to leave the strimming of the eastern border and the maintenance of the allotment side of the hedge to the Allotment Holders and the Clerk was directed to write to them accordingly. c) Allotments – access track to United Utilities water treatment facility. The proposal from Simon Braithwaite of Hesket Newmarket was considered: that the allotment holders might install drains across the access track in order to prevent the flash flooding that is occasionally experienced during heavy rains. Following discussion it was agreed that the Clerk should approach Isel Hall Estates (owners of the Allotment field) and United Utilities who have a right of way over the access track, for permission to install the drains. She will liaise with Simon Braithwaite as to the outcome of this correspondence. d) Gravel build up at confluence of Gill Beck and Cald Beck. The Clerk reported that she had again emailed Joe March, the Environment Agency Engineer, about the results of the gravel survey. He had telephoned to say that the surveys wait in a queue to be analysed by computer programme and it can take up to six months for the survey results to be received. e) Notice boards, Caldbeck village. The Chairman reported that he had reminded Mr Fleming about the boards needing the doors replacing with side opening doors. f) Caldbeck Rambler bus service (73/73A/74). ‘Go Cumbria’ booklet errors. The Clerk reported that Gillian Luscombe (CCC) was unable to find the funding for an erratum slip to be set to all recipients of the ‘Go Cumbria’ booklet but she is organising a publicity leaflet to advertise the daily bus to Caldbeck and Hesket Newmarket. g) Other parish maintenance: 1. The Clerk reported that Cumbria Community Foundation had emailed to say that the Joyce Wilkinson Trust had kindly given a £1500.00 grant towards the spreading of the waste from the clean out of Caldbeck pond. 2. Mrs Connie Richardson had written to say that she is giving up the Licence to have a shed on Hesket Newmarket Green. She has organised the taking down of the shed and the reinstating of the area with grass. The Clerk will inform the LDNPA of the end of the Licence. 3. Parish Councillor Anne Cartmell has kindly creosoted the litter bins in Caldbeck and Hesket Newmarket, and also creosoted the little bridge over the pond outlet on Caldbeck Green. 4. The Clerk was directed to report the need for cattlegrid warning signs at the new Burblethwaite and Lonning Head cattlegrids, and at the same time to remind Highways that the flood damage to the sides of the road at Burblethwaite, and the subsidence of the tarmac there has not yet been addressed. 5. The Clerk to remind Highways of the seriously degraded Wood Hall Lane which suffered major flood damage in May and has not yet been repaired. 6. Highways have telephoned to say that the white line to denote the pedestrian access from Midtown House to the Shop in Caldbeck is about to be painted. 7. Parish Councillor Colin Smithson has kindly agreed to do the pointing required on the John Peel Shelter, Caldbeck.

01/07-24 MONTHLY ACCOUNTS AND ANNUAL AUDIT a) The Budget was reviewed and expenditure to date agreed to be as expected. b) The Clerk confirmed that the Audit notices are up on the parish noticeboards and that the audit documents will be posted to the External Auditor on 6th July. c) The Clerk reported that AON Insurance had explained that it is not possible to insure against the excess if a claim should ever be made for subsidence to either the Market Cross or the John Peel Shelter. AON Insurance had also confirmed the Parish Council’s insurance for Public Liability with regard to the Allotments but had stated that this does not extend to the individual plots rented by Allotment Holders. The advice from AON is: ‘each plot owner must have their own Public Liability insurance with a Limit of Indemnity of no less than £5,000,000.00. Cover may be able to be obtained under the owners’ house insurance or through allotment associations’. The Clerk was directed to write to the Hesket Newmarket Allotment Holders’ Association to advise them of this. d) It was resolved to approve the monthly expenditure and record of income: Receipts: None Payments: Mrs Eleanor Benson, monitoring and cleaning WC for Disabled people, May, June, July: £100.00, s87 HMRC, PAYE; £177.60 Antoinette Ward, Clerk’s Salary, April, May, June 2013: £711.06 Antoinette Ward, Clerk’s Expenses, March, April, May 2013: £120.08 Anne Cartmell, Creosote for litter bins: £10.97 Audrey Noble, refreshments expenses Annual Parish Meeting: £2.12 e) To be notified of the current financial position. HSBC Current A/C 8th June: £3,717.57 HSBC Deposit A/C 8th June: £6,594.88 Interest 8th June: 0.38p

01/07-25 CORRESPONDENCE 1. Mr Bob Clark. Copy of email sent to Highways re open ditch on Newlands Lane, Hesket Newmarket. Noted with thanks. 2. Miss Rosemary Bailey. Letter re The Green, Caldbeck. See Minute 23 a) above 3. Steph Davis-Johnston, Cumbria Highways. Email about provision of cycle parking stands in Caldbeck and Hesket Newmarket. It was agreed that this would be a good idea and would be followed up once Steph Davis-Johnston has given more information about the scheme. 4. Mrs E Woodham. Thank you for Parish Council’s support with planning application, Chapel House, Hesket Newmarket. Noted with thanks. 5. CALC. Clarification re Dept for Communities and Local Government’s recent changes in guidance for principal local authorities. Noted. 6. CALC Street Lighting attachments in Cumbria – correspondence with ENW. Noted. 7. Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service with Prince’s Trust. Opportunities for young people – emailed to Councillors and to Northern Fells Group Youth Development Worker on 6th June. 8. Police and Crime Commissioner for Cumbria – Surgery at Wigton on Friday July 5th. Noted. 9. LDNPA. Business Plan 2013 – 2016. Emailed to Councillors 21.5.13. No observations. 10. United Utilities. Correspondence regarding repair of SV and Hydrant markers on Caldbeck Green. Noted. 11. CALC Circular June 2013. Emailed to Councillors on 10.6.13. Noted. 12. Connecting Cumbria Conference 21st June. Invitation emailed to Councillors on 23rd May. Noted. 13. Cumbria County Council Local Allerdale Committee. Meeting was on 19th June at Wigton. 14. CALC. Allerdale BC Consultation on New Leisure Centre in Workington. Emailed to Councillors on 21st May 2013. No observations.

01/07-26 NEXT MEETING a) The date of the next meeting: Monday 12th August 2013

The meeting closed at 9.40pm.